Anyone working in the business sector understands that logistics can be just as important, if not more important than, strategies. Having the means to send or receive goods efficiently is at the foundation of any well-established business. This is especially true in the Aviation industry. With tight deadlines and ever-changing needs, efficient, reliable shipping is a must for those working with aircraft.

In aviation, online spare part marketplaces are a great resource for finding parts from all over the world. Most of these marketplaces do not provide shipping options. The absence of shipping options can cause extra costs and time for both buyers and sellers and often leaves both parties searching for alternatives.

Shipping Issues

Hazardous goods and oversized cargo are two common concerns when it comes to shipping aircraft spare parts. With both hazardous and oversized cargo needing special care finding a shipping partner can be expensive and time-consuming. As most companies do not need to ship items in these categories often, it can be difficult to find competitive shipping rates.

Transfering payments can also quickly become difficult and tedious, especially when dealing with hazardous goods or oversized cargo. Between changing currencies and waiting for payments to arrive, buyers and sellers are often forced to waste resources.

A sheer lack of shipping options also permeates through most online Aviation spare part marketplaces. If a seller on the marketplace does offer a shipping option, normally there will be only one shipping service working with them. Since many buyers have preferences when it comes to shipping providers, one option will rarely fit everyone’s needs. A shortage of options can also force buyers to pay much higher rates. For instance, Locatory.com has found that some shipping services charge 4x more than competitors to transport oversized cargo. If a buyer is given only the option of a more expensive shipping service, it ties the hand of the buyer and difficult decisions have to be made.

Another issue that greatly affects the shipping process is customs clearance. Since it is often necessary to cross borders in multiple countries, the complexities associated with going through customs becomes increasingly more difficult and time-consuming for buyers and sellers. Constantly changing shipping or receiving requirements can cause deals to become complex and expensive quickly.